Improving the CCR Between Healthcare, Law Enforcement, and Victim Services
Survivors of crimes like sexual assault or domestic abuse often must work through multiple systems — including emergency rooms, police departments, shelters, and counseling services. When these systems don’t communicate effectively, survivors are left managing the fallout: telling their story repeatedly, receiving conflicting information, or losing access to support entirely. These breakdowns aren’t always caused […]
Using Technology to Strengthen Victim Services: Sexual Assault and Beyond
For sexual assault victims and victims of other violent crimes, help should never be out of reach. But barriers like geography, fear, stigma, and limited service capacity too often put help out of reach. Fortunately, technology is helping to change that. From text-based crisis hotlines to personal safety apps, technology is reshaping where, when, and how […]
The Role of an Individual Employment Plan in Workforce Development
The path to employment is rarely a straightforward one, especially for job seekers who are navigating barriers like a limited education, housing instability, or a long period of unemployment. For those working in workforce development — whether in nonprofits, government agencies, or community programs — the challenge isn’t just helping people find jobs; it’s helping […]
The Role of Case Management in Supporting Sexual Assault Victims
For survivors of sexual assault, the path to healing is rarely linear. Along with emotional injury, many face medical needs, safety concerns, legal difficulties, disrupted support systems, and even housing insecurity. Take, for example, the key domestic violence statistic that nearly half of all women in an abusive relationship will be sexually assaulted by their […]
Case Management in Social Work: A Comprehensive Guide for New Social Workers
Case management is a central component of social work, with implications for the manner in which individuals receive assistance in times of crisis. From helping a lone parent secure housing after an eviction to guiding an individual through the complex health system, effective case management plays a critical role in giving vulnerable people access to […]
Why Working in a Preschool was More Challenging than Providing Counseling
As a kid at heart, working in a preschool was a good fit for me but it was not without its challenges. Working in a preschool meant shifting from a planned schedule to handling unpredictable moments—from managing behaviors and multiple crises in the classroom to navigating the sometimes competing needs of students, families and teachers. […]
Giving Back to the Field through Field Supervision
Field supervisors don’t just train future social workers—they shape the future of the profession. While balancing this role alongside daily responsibilities may seem overwhelming, it’s an opportunity for both mentorship and professional growth.”Taking on a leadership role of this importance may feel intimidating at first, especially when added to our current work duties, but it’s […]
How Social Workers Can Keep Hope During Tumultuous Times
If you’d asked social workers two months ago, I don’t think many would have predicted the state that we would be in today. Social workers often serve the most vulnerable populations, so when rights are removed and people’s livelihoods are threatened, social workers intimately feel the effects. Whether they’re working with clients who are immigrants, […]
Building Rapport with Tough Clients
There are plenty of social work interventions, but the worker-client relationship is the foundation for nearly all of them. Social workers must learn therefore how to navigate all types of client relationships and how to build rapport with the most easygoing clients to the toughest. Common Challenges with Tough Clients When I worked in community […]
How to Measure the Success of Transitional Housing Programs
Transitional housing programs provide temporary accommodation and support services to individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability. These services typically last for 6-24 months while the individuals work toward securing permanent housing and greater self-sufficiency. There’s no denying that transitional housing programs are critical in solving homelessness. But just understanding what is a transitional housing program […]
